Time For Some Changes // A New Blog Name, General Rebranding, and Other Updates Coming Soon

Hello and happy Monday friends! I have some news today that I’ve been wanting to share with you guys for a while, and I’m very excited to finally say it: I’m going to be rebranding! Yes, my blog is about to go through some pretty big changes, including a name change, and I could NOT be more excited about it. 🙂

This is something I’ve been contemplating for over a month now, and the more I’ve thought about it, the more I want to do it. Even though in a lot of ways this is nerve-wracking, I’m absolutely ready for this transition and I hope you guys will bear with me here as I go through this process.

Here’s a bit more about what’s going on!

Why am I rebranding and changing the name?

Several reasons, but mainly because I just haven’t been happy with some things on my blog lately (content and design wise) and I feel that it’s holding me back. I’ve changed a lot since I’ve started blogging, and I’ve realized my blog is meant to change with me if I want it to continue being a place I love. I have so much in mind for what I want to do with this blog and where I want things to go, and this transition is the first step in that process.

I hope that makes sense and you guys understand where I’m coming from! I’ll definitely be explaining in more detail why I made this decision once the name is changed. 🙂

What will the new blog name be?

That… I cannot answer yet, and I’m sorry! I wish I could, but I’m still deciding between names, so I don’t want to tell you one and then end up choosing another. I’ll continue to keep you all updated though and I’ll let you know when I know.

By the way – choosing a blog name is so dang hard, you guys. This has been the main reason it’s taking me ages to start this whole process. I have approximately one million options I’m going through, and my indecisiveness/anxiety is truly making it difficult to choose. But I am slowly narrowing it down. Slowly… but surely!

Will the content of this blog be changing at all?

Not majorly! I’ll still be a book blog, and I’ll still be the same person, just with a different domain and layout. I do think this change is going to inspire me to post more often and to post things I’m prouder of though. And that’s something I’m really, really looking forward to. I have several different ideas for what’s in store content-wise in the future, but it’ll ALWAYS stay books. That doesn’t change!

Also! I have plans to continue posting regularly, and to keep visiting your own wonderful posts, as I’m working through this rebranding process. It just might be a little more sporadic. As I’m kind of a mess right now. But we are getting there!

What is the timeline looking like for these changes?

The first thing I’m working on is the name/domain, which I’m hoping I’ll have changed within the next couple weeks or so. After that, I’ll be keeping everything else exactly the same for a bit (my theme, layout, featured photos, profile pic, etc). This is so I’ll still be recognizable or at least… I hope I will be! Then, I’ll start making gradual design changes until it’s all complete. I don’t want to rush this process, nor drag it out, so I plan to keep things balanced as I make these updates.

Oh and also – if you notice my blog go on private at all during this, it’s because I’m testing something or redesigning. Just a heads up, and it’ll go back to public!

How will I keep you updated as things move along?

I’ll make a post whenever the name is changed, when I start making design changes, and then one more once it’s all complete. I’ll also make sure to remind you guys at the end of each of my other posts that these changes will be coming. You can also follow me on Twitter where I’ll be sharing updates as well!

I hope that this was informative enough for now, and I’ll continue letting you guys know more as this goes along! But if you’re wondering about anything else right now, PLEASE do let me know. Like I said, I want to make this transition as smooth as possible by staying in touch with you all, keeping you updated, and doing gradual changes instead of all at once. So if you have any questions or comments or anything, I’m all ears. ❤

‘Brianna the Bookworm’ will always be where I started, and I never want to erase this part of my blogging journey, but I’m so very excited for what’s to come. Change usually makes me nervous, and in a lot of ways, this is making me nervous. But mostly I’m ecstatic, and relieved, and I really cannot wait for this next chapter.

Thank you guys for your endless support and for your understanding! I wouldn’t be able to do this without you all, and I just cannot put in to words how much I appreciate the blogging community for allowing me to do what I love the most. You guys have given me a place to be fully myself in a way that I’ve never been before, and these changes are going to continue to reflect that! I cannot wait for what’s to come and to keep chatting about all the books with you guys. ❤

I hope you all have a great week and have been reading something good! I’ll talk to you soon !! 🙂

I’d love to know

Have you ever made any major changes to your blog/name? How did it go?

How did you pick your blog name? Do you have any tips to help me narrow it down?!

What sites/programs do you guys use for graphics and other design elements?

39 thoughts on “Time For Some Changes // A New Blog Name, General Rebranding, and Other Updates Coming Soon”

Ooh, this is exciting! I love your blog as it is, but I’m sure it will be even more wonderful after you’ve made these changes 🙂 The most important thing is that YOU are happy with your blog, after all!

I really WANT to change my blog’s layout, because I don’t really feel at all happy with it, but I’m sort of really bad at computer/design stuff, so I have no clue how, and have been procrastinating for like… a year. (Oops.)

I have NO tips on choosing a blog name (It’s HARD), but if you need someone to bounce names off of, feel free to drop me a message 🙂

Iris, you are always so very kind AHH thank you ❤ It really is important that we are the one's that are happiest with our blogs and I really appreciate this reminder as I'm making these changes !!

I know what you mean about the struggle to redesign lol! And the procrastination. It's just a lot to think about and being clueless about all of it does not make it any easier😂 Hopefully we both end up with blogs designs we like at some point!

I feel like I'm starting to narrow down a few different names, but it has been SO hard to pick one. Agh thank you – you will likely be getting a message from me soon! I could use opinions because my indecisiveness is too much hahaha.

Good luck with all of the changes, Brianna! Your blog is great as is, but I know with all this time and thought you put into this transition, there are even better things to come! 🙂 I FEEL YOU on the blog name, girl. It took me so long to finally decide on mine. Mostly because every time I had a good name, it was already taken…. but I am most positive the right name will come to you and be a perfect fit. I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us!

Awh Brittany, thank you so much for this comment and all these kind words! ❤ I'm really so excited for all these changes to come, but oh my goodness has the blog name been difficult to pick. It does feel like so many are taken agh! I have hopes that the right one will come to me though – thank you! Your support means the world 🙂

I think we all have to adapt and allow for development. I've changed my blog so many times over the course of three years because we ourselves mature and I think our blogs mature with us. The more we write, the more we play we become better adapt at designing and using graphics. We all have to start somewhere, but seeing a blog build upon it's initial design is just so much fun. It's also a good indication of just how far the blogger themselves has developed. I'm hoping this all makes sense…?

When I first started, I was Books and Tea Leaves – because I loved books and I loved tea. original, I know haha! While that fact hasn't changed I felt my blog was a little too juvenile and I went through a variety of different themes and styles before I finally setting on Reading By Starlight and the blog you see today.

I can't wait to see the new changes but I'm sure they'll be gorgeous! xo

This comment truly means so much to me, Lexie! You are the absolute sweetest❤️ I know exactly what you mean about how blogs develop as we do and love how you put that in to words! It’s exactly how I’ve been feeling. It’s also reassuring to know that someone else has gone through this process. Haha Books and Tea Leaves is such a cute name, but Reading by Starlight is just the loveliest and so is your entire blog!
Thank you so much for this support and all the kind words! I appreciate it more than you know. 🙂

Awww thanks for saying so! Reading By Starlight was a labor of love so I really appreciate that.

Also, in answer to your quires – I can remember sitting on “reading by starlight” and playing with alternatives for weeks but I’m positive it’s the perfect fit now. There’s no easy way of choosing a name in my experience but I’ve found coming up with a theme. I wanted something atmospheric and something to suite my personality. I’m a dreamer, I love to star gaze and I do the majority of my reading at night – ding ding ding! Thus Reading By Starlight! ahaha 😉

Have you got any themes or images in mind? That would be a great starting place. Good luck – I can’t wait for the big reveal! x ❤

I’m so excited for the new changes to your blog, Brianna! I mean, your blog is already amazing, but I know it’s going to get better and better. ☺️💗 I use mostly Canva and Photoshop for my blog graphics; they’re my favorite editing programs!

Ahh Dezzy you have been SUCH a huge help to me in this whole process !! I can’t thank you enough for your support and for just listening to me rant about how stressed I’ve been over this lol :’) And ooh Canva and Photoshop – I’ve used both in the past for other projects, but I’m going to have to check those out again for sure.

Oh, good luck!!! I’ve started a million different blogs, actually only 5, before I settled into my groove with Redgal Musings. And for a while, I didn’t even know what my blog was so I blogged about random things until I found my place with book blogging. I always knew my blog would have have something about being a redhead, so that made it easier to pick a domain name, haha!

It is challenging deciding blog things because every decision feels so set? But it’s not really, because your blog is first of all, for you! So have fun with it! (just don’t spend money before you’ve finally decided anything. That’s my bank account talking 😂)

For graphics, I actually hired a graphic design friend to do my logo and basic graphics that I always use. It was a little expensive, but a good investment. Now, I use Canva to put my post graphics together for each post.

Thank you for this comment Liz!! 💖
Your domain is such a good one and your entire blog is honestly way too pretty ahh! I love it. And yes that’s exactly my stress right now – whatever I decide to do with my blog feels so permanent, and I don’t want to make the wrong choices, ya know? But I’m trying to remind myself that things can always change down the line if I really wanted them to. Plus it seems like lots of other bloggers have been here before which is making me feel better!

Thank you for the tips on graphics! Oh and for not spending money on anything until I make final decisions lol. I am definitely keeping that in mind😂

I appreciate this support so much, Liz! You’re such a kind friend and I can’t thank you enough for all of this encouragement and advice💞

OOOOO Such exciting news!! I can’t wait to see the final reveal ❤ I decided to just pick Read By Tiffany because it was easy to find, and it was lucky enough to be a name still available on Instagram, Twitter, WordPress so I could keep everything consistent 😅I've also been considering doing some design changes when I have more free time, so this is also very inspiring! BEST OF LUCK BRI!!!!

AWH THANK YOU TIFFANY💖 Your blog name is perfect – easy to find, cute and straightforward! I love it. and it’s good it was available across all the social media platforms!! That’s been something I’ve been trying to keep in mind as well. Ahh there’s just so many factors going in to this decision😅

And ooh if you do any design changes, I cannot wait to see them! I absolutely love how you’ve done your blog, but I’m sure any changes are going to be amazing💖

Thanks so much for this comment, Tiffany! Your support and kindness honestly mean the world !!

Ahh, so exciting! I can’t wait for all the changes and I’m super looking forward to it. Good luck with everything! ❤️

I chose the name Purely Olivia for my blog because I wanted to include my name it in, and I also wanted something that could shift with my blog focus- it started out much more lifestyle, and is now entirely a book blog, but thankfully my name still worked, haha. I can’t wait to hear what your new name will be!

As for graphic design, most of my graphics like my header were created with Picmonkey back before it cost money, but now I use BeFunky for featured images. (And get the images from Unsplash- super awesome free image website.) I’ve actually never spent money on my blog, so I’m always on the lookout for free graphics ahaha. 🙂

Olivia !! Thank you💖 I honestly admire you and your blog so much, so this advice and support from you means everything!

Ahh I’ve always loved your blog name; it’s such a good one! I’m glad it ended up working out when you started focusing on books too. And ooh I really appreciate all of these recommendations for where to get graphics – I’ll definitely have to check those out, because I’m seriously in love with how you’ve designed your blog 🙂 Thanks so, so much for all of these suggestions✨😊

I am excited for you and this big change (big, but wonderful!) It is nerve wracking but sometimes it is exactly what you need to push you into where you want to ultimately be :]

I have changed my domain (for my personal blog) so that it would match my new bookish one (about a year ago now!) It was hard, and most of the time I don’t necessarily feel like it fits? But that could be because more people are following that blog than before when I literally just vented about life issues to me myself and I.

I currently use the free layouts on wordpress, but have thought about using paid ones. I am just not savvy enough to feel comfortable designing a page/graphics etc. on my own.
For images/graphics that are super basic, I use Adobe Spark. It is fairly easy to use, and I happen to think that even using the free options (images, etc.) they come out pretty great. I have to say I am really happy with them so far (you can see examples of those graphics in my First Impression Friday posts, TBR Tuesday posts, and my recent Book Hauls and Mini Reviews). I am happy to link those posts upon your request so that you can properly check them out :]

Awww Samantha! I appreciate this comment so much. I’m so excited for these upcoming changes, but also very nervous, so it’s comforting to hear that someone else has done a domain change before!

And thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all the graphic design suggestions! I’ve looked in to paid layouts before as well, but I just have never felt sure if they were worth it! I use Adobe Spark right now for some things on my blog – although I’ve never used their images. I just checked out some of those posts you mentioned though and I love how you’ve incorporated them! I’m definitely going to keep this in mind 🙂